The neural basis of goal-directed behaviour

Thomas will investigate the neural control of behaviour by circuits in the frontal cortex and striatum. The project aims to use electrophysiology in novel behaviour paradigms to tease apart the contributions of model-based and model-free reinforcement learning mechanisms to evaluating possible actions. This work will be undertaken in the laboratories of Dr Rui Costa (Champalimaud Centre, Lisbon), Dr Mark Walton (University of Oxford) and Dr Geoff Schoenbaum (University of Maryland, Baltimore), in collaboration with Professor Peter Dayan (Gatsby Unit, UCL).